Adjustable shirt collar

ABSTRACT

An adjustable collar having a vertical fabric strip hole through which a fabric strip passes unimpeded. The fabric strip is secured to a free end of an elastic strip, which is secured to a shirt band at a first end of the elastic strip. A button is secured to a free end of the fabric strip and the button passes through a horizontal buttonhole defined in an end of an outer portion of a neckband of the shirt. The fabric strip is retracted and hidden when the collar is open. The button is larger than a diameter of the fabric strip hole to prevent the fabric strip from retracting completely through the vertical fabric strip hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable shirt collar, and more particularly to an elastic strip that self-adjusts a circumference of the shirt collar to provide a comfortable fit.

2. Description of Related Art

There are occasions when people need to expand the collar of the shirt they are wearing to obtain a comfortable fit. Shirts with permanently attached collars, particularly dress shirts, are normally manufactured in standard collar sizes based on the circumference of the collar. Although standard collar sizes may initially provide a comfortable fit, many individuals who fall between standard collar sizes or experience a change in weight over time may experience discomfort when wearing the shirt. Moreover, it is well known that clothing, i.e., shirts, shrink after several washings, which also results in a change in the actual size of the shirt collar, whereupon, it becomes uncomfortable to wear the shirt. Therefore, an adjustable shirt collar becomes necessary to ensure that shirts may adjust to fit the wearer comfortably.

Various solutions to this problem have been offered in the art. One known solution offers collar adjustment using an adjustable shirt collar fastening device having an elastic strip secured between the lining and the ply of the collar by stitches. A button is attached at the end of the elastic strip, which is maneuverable so as to pass through a horizontal button hole in the collar. Additionally, a U-shaped metal cap is adapted to prevent the elastic strip from inadvertently entering or being drawn into or through the horizontal button hole. A finished fabric strip folds over the elastic strip and the button. Although this solution offers collar expansion, a wearer may desire to conceal the elastic strip if the top button is unbuttoned to provide a neater and arguably more professional appearance.

Another known solution is a shirt having a fixed unit, which contains a relatively short and resilient strap vertically disposed and bent back onto itself. A button is attached to the end of the strap by stitching. Additionally, two tabs of the collar shift together allowing the button to pass through a button hole to hold the tabs together. The collar extends when the strap is stretched outwardly through the opening of the inner tab and through the button hole. The strap is oriented orthogonally relative to the collar band. Therefore, to relieve discomfort, the collar is adjusted by stretching the strap outwardly through the horizontal button hole. Because such adjustment is due to a force that pulls the button and the strap outward rather than the more natural side-to-side movement of the button and strap, the fit may still be uncomfortable as the button presses against the front center portion of a wearer's throat. Moreover, because the strap is attached orthogonally relative to a longitudinal axis of the button hole, any sideways movement of the strap results in the button loosening, or the alteration of the stitching holding the strap to the collar, or both.

Other solutions are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 912,958 to H. S. Hawks; U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,527 to J. Sansone; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,843 to S. Berger. Each patent describes a collar button structured to relieve pressure on the neck of the wearer without using an expanding strip.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,686 to Krause et al., as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,898,941 and 6,250,116 to Groshens disclose solutions using expandable fabric weaves, expandable fabric patterns, expandable fabric weaves and patterns, or stitching in the collar to provide the necessary expansion.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,240 to Steele discloses another solution wherein the stationary collar button is replaced with adjustable hook and loop fasteners adapted for removable attachment to one another. A third hook and loop fastener strip allows the covering strip to be retracted and attached for concealment. However, the solution taught by Steele requires several manufacturing steps that result in a substantial increase in manufacturing costs, which are passed along to consumers. Additionally, the hook and loop fasteners become less effective after multiple washings because the hook and loop fasteners ability to lockingly engage is impeded by the friction that occurs during the washing process. Furthermore, it is well known that the hook and loop fasteners inadvertently attach to other items that may cause a build up of threads or particles, which reduces the effectiveness or the aesthetic appearance of the fasteners.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,365 to Berger merely discloses an expandable button hole. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,570 to E. Rinehart et al. discloses a shirt having an elastic cord covered with fabric. A loop at the end of the elastic cord extends across the collar opening to attach to one of several buttons under the collar on the opposite side of the collar.

Many of the solutions described above are susceptible to deterioration or create constrictive pressure on the throat of the wearer. Additionally, the solutions do not allow the wearer to conceal the apparatus when the collar is unbuttoned and left open. Therefore, there is a need for an expandable shirt collar that adjusts the fit of the collar without placing undesirable and unnecessary pressure on the throat of the wearer. There is a further need for an expandable shirt collar that creates an appealing look and allows the wearer to conceal the apparatus of the expandable shirt collar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention provide a self-adjusting shirt collar that provides a comfortable fit for the wearer.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a collar. The collar includes a neckband assembly, a flap, an extendable elastic strip, a fabric strip, a button, a horizontal buttonhole, and a vertical fabric strip hole. The elastic strip is secured to a neckband by stitching. The neckband also has a vertical fabric strip hole secured near one end of the neckband. Moreover, the fabric strip is attached to a free end of the elastic strip and a button is secured to a free end of the fabric strip. A buttonhole is provided on an end of the neckband opposite the button end, such that the buttonhole is configured to receive the button upon extending the fabric strip. The fabric strip is covered and concealed when retracted and not in use.

In another aspect of the invention, the neckband assembly has an inner band and an outer band. The fabric strip extends from the outside of the outer band and through a vertical fabric strip hole. The vertical strip hole allows the fabric strip to automatically be hidden when retracted. Also, the vertical strip hole allows an operating length of the fabric strip to adjust, such as, for example, to increase the circumference of the collar. Additionally, the fabric strip slides through the vertical fabric strip hole unimpeded so as to not place any constricting pressure on the throat of the wearer. Moreover, the fabric strip does not place strain on the elastic strip or fabric strip stitching, which could eventually disengage the elastic strip or fabric strip, or both, from the collar. Moreover, because there is no interruption when maneuvering the fabric strip through the fabric strip hole, the wearer does not have to aggressively pull the button or the fabric strip to button the collar. As a result, the button stitching is not susceptible to loosening. Finally, the button is attached to prevent the fabric strip from being drawn inadvertently back through the vertical fabric strip hole and away from the outer side of the outer band.

Additional advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially transparent perspective view of a buttoned shirt with an expandable collar, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an open shirt collar with a retracted expandable elastic strip, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an open shirt collar with the extended expandable elastic strip illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of one end of the shirt collar illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a rear (or outside) view of the fully opened shirt collar, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the present invention includes an adjustable shirt collar 10 having an elastic strip 19, a fabric strip 14 attached to the elastic strip 19, and a button 50 attached to an end of the fabric strip 14. The present invention, as disclosed herein, allows for self-adjustment of the circumference of the shirt collar 10 to provide a comfortable fit to the wearer.

In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a shirt 1 having the collar 10 sewn thereon. The collar 10 includes a multi-layered neckband assembly 20 and a multi-layered flap 30, which may fold up or down over a crease 40 between the neckband assembly 20 and the flap 30. It is within the scope of the invention to form the crease 40 between the neckband assembly 20 and the flap 30 by stitching the flap 30 to the neckband assembly 20. Furthermore, if the collar 10 is manufactured as a single (or multi-layered) outer piece and inner piece of fabric, respectively, the crease 40 is formed over a plane between the neckband assembly 20 and the flap 30.

Additionally, the neckband assembly 20, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, includes an outer band 21 and inner band 22 with a fabric strip hole 25 attached at a first end 21 a of the outer band 21. The fabric strip hole 25 defines an opening that is vertical relative to a buttonhole 28 defined at a second free end 21 b of the outer band 21. See FIGS. 1-3 and 5. The buttonhole 28 is horizontal and has a longitudinal axis extending in a direction substantially parallel relative to a longitudinal axis of the neckband assembly 20. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the vertical fabric strip hole 25 has a longitudinal axis extending orthogonally relative to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal buttonhole 28 and neckband assembly 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic strip 19, is sewn using at least two bartacks to the underside of the outer band 21 prior to attaching the outer band 21 and inner band 22 together, along with the flap 30 to complete assembly of the adjustable shirt collar 10. The fabric strip 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and particularly FIG. 4, is inserted from the outside into strip hole 25 at the first free end 21 a of the outer band 21 until button 50 contacts strip hole 25. It should be noted that the free end 19 a of elastic strip 19 is sewn with at least two bartacks to the free end 14 b of the fabric strip 14 and the button 50 is sewn on the free end 14 a of the fabric strip 14 before the fabric strip 14 is passed through the strip hole 25. The button 50 may also pass through the horizontal buttonhole 28 to close the shirt collar 10. Moreover, the button 50 prevents the fabric strip 14 from inadvertently being drawn through the vertical fabric strip hole 25.

The fabric strip 14, which is attached to the collar 10 by the elastic strip 19, may be manufactured in any color, design or material, e.g., plaid, satin, or the same color and material as the wearer's tie, but particularly, in the same color and of the same material as the shirt 1. The fabric strip 14 extends along the length of the collar 10 when the wearer grasps the button 50 and inserts the button 50 through the horizontal buttonhole 28 such that the second end 21 b overlaps the first end 21 a of the outer band 21. See FIGS. 1-3. The fabric strip 14 is hidden inside the outer band 21 and inner band 22 when the fabric strip 14 is retracted.

The elastic strip 19 and fabric strip 14, when attached to the collar 10 through the vertical fabric strip hole 25, functions to expand the circumference of the neckband assembly 20, as needed, when the fabric strip 14 is buttoned into the horizontal buttonhole 28. By expanding the circumference of the neckband assembly 20, the wearer may maximize the comfort of the shirt collar 10.

Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt the teachings of the expandable collar of this invention to particular situations or materials without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, this invention should not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all embodiments within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

1. An adjustable collar of a shirt, the collar comprising: a neckband assembly having a first end and a second end, extends along a circumference of the collar and comprises an outer band and an inner band; an extendable elastic strip has a first end secured to an underside of the outer band and extends through a strip hole in the first end of the outer band; a fabric strip has a first end secured to a free end of the elastic strip; a button is secured to a free end of the fabric strip; and a buttonhole is defined in the second end of the neckband assembly and is configured to receive the button upon extension of the elastic and fabric strip assembly.
 2. The adjustable collar according to claim 1, wherein the outer band includes guide means for holding and guiding the fabric strip.
 3. The adjustable collar according to claim 2, wherein the guiding means includes a fabric strip hole configured to permit the fabric strip to pass therethrough unimpeded.
 4. The adjustable collar according to claim 3, wherein the fabric strip hole extends in a vertical direction orthogonal relative to the longitudinal axis of the elastic and fabric strip assembly.
 5. The adjustable collar according to claim 3, wherein a diameter of the button is larger than a diameter of the fabric strip hole and prevents the button from passing therethrough.
 6. The adjustable collar according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the elastic strip is secured to an underside of the outer band portion by bar tacking.
 7. The adjustable collar according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the fabric strip is secured to the free end of the elastic strip by bar tacking.
 8. The adjustable collar according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the outer band portion of the neckband assembly overlaps the first end of the outer band portion of the neckband assembly when the button passes through the buttonhole. 